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"Not being listened to"

About: General Practices in Grampian

(as a service user),

I am a 29 year old woman. Fit and healthy, apart from the issues touched upon below.

For years (at least 5/6) I have been experiencing the same issues. Chronic pain, especially in my hips and legs. Shaking hands. Losing all vision in one eye. Extreme fatigue, where I could sleep for a full day and still wake up feeling like I hadn't slept. Using the wrong words, slurring my speech. Forgetting what I'm talking about, what I'm doing, where I'm going, where I am. These are just some of the issues, and are pertinent to the story... They come and go. But the period of this happening increases frequency and duration as time goes on...

These issues have now become unbearable and have been for some time. I have been to my GP surgery many times. Always the same. Book an appointment for blood tests and book another appointment when the symptoms present. My bloods always come back fine. I am told to take paracetamol for pain. And whenever I call because I feel the symptoms coming on again, I have to wait another 3 weeks to be seen by which time the symptoms have ceased... Every. Single. Time.

I am not being listened to. At all. My mother has MS. Many people have asked me if I have a chronic illness because of how I am. And each time I have to say no, I don't know, because nobody listens. 

I don't make this up. I wish I was. Because I would love to live without daily pain and exhaustion. But if I'm constantly fobbed off by GPs and nurse practitioners, what else am I supposed to do? It's not difficult to listen. It's not difficult to be treated with the slightest shred of respect and decency. And it certainly should not be difficult to even attempt to diagnose a patient. Surely that's a better option than leaving a 29 year old mother in pain every day.

All I want is to be listened to. To try and figure out what the hell is wrong with me. I know my own body, and something is very wrong. Why can't anyone see that? I just want to be heard. I want to be listened to. 

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Responses

Response from Kirsten Dickson, Quality Improvement and Assurance Facilitator, Quality Improvement and Assurance Team, NHS Grampian 3 years ago
Kirsten Dickson
Quality Improvement and Assurance Facilitator, Quality Improvement and Assurance Team,
NHS Grampian
Submitted on 30/04/2020 at 17:50
Published on Care Opinion at 17:50


picture of Kirsten Dickson

Dear Ginger21,

I’m so sorry to hear that you have been going through such an awful time and that you, or your GP, haven’t been able to find the answers you need for you to be able to enjoy life with your kids again. 6 years is a long time.

GP’s have abroad knowledge of lots of conditions but will have expertise in different areas. I’m guessing that you’ve already tried a few GP’s at the practice? If not, it might be worth trying others - even the ones you have to wait weeks for an appointment with. A good GP will always listen carefully and understand that you know your body best, but finding the right one for you, isn’t always simple.

This doesn’t help of course if you have already tried all the GP’s and still are no further forward. There is no guarantee that answers will be found but repeating the same process over and over will only be causing more disappointment and frustration.

Most GP Practices in Grampian are run independently, and if you feel comfortable, it would be best to get in touch with the practice manager to talk through your concerns. Most will be able to offer suggestions about the best way forward. Unfortunately they don’t currently access the Care Opinion website directly. However, I would be interested to know which practice you attended and would also be happy to share your story with them.

I can be contacted on email: kirsten.dickson@nhs.net

Take care,

Kirsten

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